Wal-Mart could look to Poland for expansion

[Jaga]

Finally it would feel in Poland like in America

US retail giant Wal-Mart could be set to enter the Polish retail sector as part of a possible expansion into Eastern Europe, according to reports in the Polish media.


Polish broadsheet Rzeczpospolita reports that Wal-Mart who has shown an interest in entering the country's growing retail market through greenfield investment, with French chain Auchan believed its most likely target.

Wal-Mart are already prevalent in Western European countries like the UK and Germany, through chains like Asda, and the news could mark the beginnings of their expansion into Eastern Europe.

www.foodanddrinkeurope.com/news/ng.asp?n=70676-wal-mart-carrefour-expansion-poland-supermarkets

[Bob S]

More employment, lower prices, more merchandise selection. Sounds like a winner to me Jaga. ;D

[bescheid]

This should give to the Polish consumers, a win/win situation in both variety and prices of quality merchandise. It is important that they {Wal-Mart} will do their research very well in advance to better serve the market.

Wal-Mart is out of Germany because of this failure upon their part to integrate their marketing manner and as a result, have sold out to Metro. I think the month of finalization is Dec. 2006.

It was a simply matter of misunderstanding of basic German consumer habits and a very epensive run in with the labour unions, and strict zoning laws. Business in Germany does not operate as of in America. In as much to consumer habits. {front store greeters are intrusive and offensive}{in as much to baggers of purchased merchandise}{this is mine, keep your hands to your self}.

But this is not the world.

www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/01/business/walmart.php

Charles

[rdywenur]

quality merchandise

I don't think so. That is why it is so cheap. You get what you pay for. Lima a very small village near here just voted them down and they gave up. I am elated. Can you hear me screaming with joy. Its like David and Goliath. Yippee!!! 2 points for us.

[Jaga]

wb4rff said:

More employment, lower prices, more merchandise selection. Sounds like a winner to me Jaga. ;D

Bob,

Walmart did some harm to local economies but when I need something cheap - I go to look for it in Walmart. On teh other hand I would hate to live in the world when Walmart would squeeze all the competitions.

[sciwriter]

Jaga, it's a winner. Moreover, Polish managers will obtain valuable experience in this business. Carl

[Bob S]

admin said:

wb4rff said:

More employment, lower prices, more merchandise selection. Sounds like a winner to me Jaga. ;D

Bob,

Walmart did some harm to local economies but when I need something cheap - I go to look for it in Walmart. On teh other hand I would hate to live in the world when Walmart would squeeze all the competitions.

;D Jaga, Carl and Chris. Wal-Mart seems to be a mixed blessing. If 2 identicel items are sold in 2 different stores but the price is lower in one store, I might buy the item in the store with the lower price. However, I might buy the item in the store with the higher price.
As an example:
I decide to buy a computer, etc... One store offers the item at a lower price but, it only offers a replacement or my money back if I think there is something wrong with the item.
The other store offers the same item at a higher price BUT there is After Market service when I make the purchase. if something appears wrong with what I purchased, perhaps it is my fault or the item was not properly set-up. The store with the higher price can offer me service which includes set-up, usage, advice and repair (if I ever need it).
Mass merchandising offers items at a lower price but may lack "after market" service.
I hope I made myself understandable in this post. ;D

[bescheid]

Bob

I must by virtue of your post, reply with a comment. I would tend to believe you have it correct on with your analysis of marketing. As you brought forth, in mass marketing, the consumer has less advantage of personal service in professional advice and assistance. But, at a lower retail price.

Whilst as you have brought forward, the smaller retail establishment, must charge more in retail to offset their wholesale lesser volume. But, a similar time of instance, able to better serve the customer with usually more Superior product knowledge and professional advice, as not just a box handler.

At least this gives choices to the consumer as to which will better fit their needs as to their purchase.

Charles

[Bob S]

;D Right you are Charles. The final decision lies with the customers and their needs.

[scatts]

Hard to imagine Wal-Mart would do anything new over here. I've seen Carrefour, Auchan, Tesco, Hit, Real and others all come over with great ideas and end up selling the same rubbish as everyone else. Mind you, targeting the cheap end of the market does seem to be the route to success.

[Eric]

I DESPISE Wal-Mart. If they ever think of moving anywhere into Russia, I will pack up and move to Belarus, which will probably be the last country in Europe to be Americainzed.

[scatts]

...and from what I hear, the last country in Europe to have a lot of other things, like civil rights, free elections........

[Eric]

I have always had a very good time visiting Belarus. Since I have no intentions of publically protesting against the government, I can't imagine that I would have any serious problems owing to the "lack of civil rights and free elections". Believe me, I would have voted for Lukashenko, anyway. The guy drives me crazy at times, but any of the other candidates would have created a Ukrainian-type situation in Belarus. And don't even try to tell me that Ukraine is better off today than before the Orange Revolution.

[joyce]

Walmart could look o Poland...Having a super center Walmart in my town is a mixed blessing. It had created jobs for some, but Walmart also brought in their own employees. Only the management gets a 40 hour paycheck, while stockers & cashiers get less than 40 hrs a week. The working schedules are difficult at times when one does not have transportation. The benefits-such as health insurance or retirement/401K options are not that great, especially for part time employees.

As a consumer, unfortunately I have to shop there sometimes-say to buy ink for my printer or if I need to stock my pantry with foods. The store we have has clothing, household goods, electronics, shoes alot of things that a department store would have. If one doesn't mind their budget-you could spend way too much money there. Some people think that Walmart has the cheapest prices, but they don't. We live in a rural area and the prices are very high, despite their tv ads of having lowest prices everyday. You have to be careful what you buy there-you buy cheap-you get cheap. When the new Walmart opened up, they're prices were very cheap-basically to get you in the store. But since they have been here for 3 years, the prices are not cheap anymore.

One saying is "Walmart Fall apart."
Another saying is that "if you see at Walmart one day-you'd better buy it that day. For you go back the next day, they have sold out of it." Another annoying thing about Walmart is that they are constantly moving their inventory around. You knew they had canned pumpkin in the baking isle, but then they move it to the fruit isle. Give me a small food store any day-where I know where to get my canned pumpkin without searching thru the whole store. Makes a big difference in getting frustrated while shopping.

When Walmart came in, everyone thought that the small town shops would disappear. In fact just the reverse has happened. We have had more small shops open up-those that cater to specialty items-such as coffee houses or better clothing stores. Not everyone wants to wear a Walmart brand.

When a BIG home improvement store came to town-Lowe's-the little hardware store that ran for years-has stayed open. They have their faithful customers-because they provide a personal services-you can talk to real people who know what they are talking about. Walmart, to me is very impersonal. You don't get that "one on one" caring.

Yes, it is true that if you travel to a Walmart that is 30 or 100 miles away, the prices are different. Maybe the Walmart here thinks that people who live in the country have more money than those who live in the city. When you confront the store manager regarding the price differences, he says that they can price the item at any price they feel like. Of course, it depends on how much profit they are making during a particular season too. Walmart grosses alot of money each day.
Joyce

[rdywenur]

Joyce I hate Walmarts. I see nothing good about it . Also how would you like to see this in your neighborhood on a daily basis which I have written to the CEO at headquarters and then had the manager of the store call me yet still nothing is done. I don't want excuses I want action. I don't care if they have to hire a guy with a gun to stop them from taking the carts off the property. We don't need to see their carts dumped all over the neighborhood.